Project description:

Challenge: The most sensitive issues in modern agriculture include soil degradation, the impact of climate change, and the high cost of resources. The Shyrokostup Farm faces all of these challenges, but the most critical one was the lack of comprehensive data on soil health and real-time monitoring of changes. The problem of water erosion in certain areas of the farm led to a decrease in organic matter content, and assumptions about uneven nutrient content in the soil required accurate analysis. Such challenges negatively affect crop yields and the farm’s overall economy.

Solution: To improve soil health parameters and track changes over time, a comprehensive digital diagnostics program was implemented using gamma (Interra®Scan) and infrared (AgroСares) spectroscopy technologies. The use of these technologies enables highly accurate data collection to improve soil health, optimize nutrition programs, and conserve resources.

Result: The comprehensive program helped the farm create detailed digital maps of 19 soil health parameters, including organic matter content; and implement a plan of regenerative practices, in particular to reduce the intensity of water erosion processes; monitor the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and increase organic matter content from 4.4 to 6.7% on an area of 140 hectares over 5 years. Based on digital diagnostic data, an optimized system of fertilization of field crops is being implemented on the farm, taking into account the best practices of sustainable agriculture: use of cover crops,  selection of more effective types, norms, rates, and methods of applying fertilizers, and soil herbicides.

Partners:

Shyrokostup Farm, Kyiv region, Kaharlyk District

Category: Digital Transformation & Innovations

Company: Syngenta LLC

About the company: 

Syngenta is a global leader in agribusiness, producing high-quality plant protection products and seeds for field and vegetable crops, providing farmers with innovative solutions to increase and improve crop quality, while addressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and soil fertility sustainably. Over 25 years of operation in Ukraine, the company has formed a reliable team of experts and strong partnerships in the market, investing in the development of business infrastructure and research and development activities to deliver quality customer support and local access to innovations.